Harry Potter: The Bard of Hogwarts

As Athena finished her narration, an eerie silence enveloped the vast temple.

In this quiet atmosphere, it seemed one could even hear the crackling of the olive oil lamps burning.

…

"What do you want me to do?" Ino was the first to break the silence. Since Athena mentioned this matter, she must have a corresponding plan.

"It wasn't a big deal initially, but now I have a better idea."

Athena gazed at the blue phoenix. After a moment, she smiled lightly and said:

"I'll give you a potion from the goddess of love, and you'll seduce Amphitrite. She's in the temple too! Afterward, have this bird bring you back, and I promise to protect your safety."

"Pfft… cough cough!" Ino almost choked on his breath.

Indeed, the Greek gods were the most human-like. Even the renowned Athena was behaving like a vengeful girl at the moment.

"Choose a different way to get back at him!"

He refused the suggestion to seduce the sea goddess without even thinking about it.

Seducing Poseidon's wife in his temple… this was beyond mere revenge.

"Then go destroy his temple!" Athena's expression instantly turned cold upon hearing his refusal.

Destroying a temple was a suicide mission.

However, faced with this even more absurd condition, Ino thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

"Fine! I agree, but not now!"

"What? You'd better think it through!" Athena raised her eyebrows, looking astonished.

Destroying or damaging a temple was an act of outright enmity.

Although the Greek gods did not rely on the power of faith, their temples were their most basic symbols of respect.

No one would cross this line unless a true divine war was at hand.

Therefore, Athena was momentarily stunned when her rash demand was accepted.

…

While Athena was in a daze, Ino naturally spoke again:

"I can help you vent your anger and destroy his temple, and afterward, I won't need your protection. But in return, you must guarantee Helena's safety…"

He hadn't finished speaking when Athena coldly interrupted him.

"I gave you a chance to back out!"

Faced with the silent response, she suddenly felt somewhat disinterested.

After a moment, Athena stood up and calmly said:

"As long as you can do it, I'll make that girl my attendant deity."

Hearing this final promise, Ino silently nodded.

In Greek mythology, an attendant deity didn't hold much status.

However, the title was undeniable.

The famous Hermes, although Zeus's assistant and messenger, was essentially an attendant deity.

Although being Athena's attendant deity did not equate to serving Zeus, as one of the Twelve Olympian gods, an attendant deity still received protection from the divine rules.

Henceforth, not only would Helena be safe, but she would also indirectly gain immortality; as long as the deity she served existed, she could live on indefinitely.

…

"I will do my best to destroy his temple."

Faced with Athena's generosity, Ino also made a corresponding promise.

"Whatever!" The main seat responded again, but the tone was evidently disinterested.

Actually, Ino had guessed the reason for Athena's change in attitude.

It was probably like a girl who accidentally got an interesting toy but found it inexplicably turned into a disposable item before she could enjoy it.

However, unlike Athena's boredom, Ino felt a sense of relief.

Since discovering the sun chariot, he had always been cautious, trying to avoid trouble.

Fate led him to encounter this divine family.

But after the encounter, he realized it wasn't as troublesome as expected; instead, he felt more open-minded.

After all, he wouldn't come back here again.

He might as well go wild once before leaving, fulfilling his duty as a teacher and securing a stable future for Helena.

…

Half an hour later.

Under the cover of night, Ino left the temple.

After reaching an agreement, Athena's attitude became more perfunctory, and she was too lazy to speak further.

Faced with this situation, bidding farewell was the best option.

He once again walked through the quiet streets outside the temple.

Pushing open the bakery door, he was met with Helena's concerned eyes.

"I'm fine, but I might have to leave in a while." Ino said frankly.

On the way, he had planned to be honest; some things would eventually come to light and couldn't be hidden.

"Do you have to leave?" Helena lowered her head and said dejectedly.

"I have no choice; I always knew I'd leave someday, just like how I arrived suddenly. But before I leave, I'll prepare a gift for you, so you'll never go hungry."

Ino made his promise.

…

Time passed silently.

Half a year had passed since the Athena Festival.

During this period, Helena had changed significantly.

She had matured a lot, but at the cost of losing some childhood laughter.

Whether this was good or bad, no one could say.

But one thing was clear: maturity comes at the cost of losing something.

Ino noticed Helena's changes but was powerless to help.

All he could do was spend more time with her while he still could.

Mount Hymettus.

Located by the sea and influenced by the warm, moist winds of the Aegean Sea, the temperature rarely fell below 5°C, even in winter.

Therefore, the small valley was always adorned with blooming flowers, only varying in number and type.

In the valley, under a tall olive tree.

Ino was fiddling with a camera in his hand.

As time passed, seeing Helena's constant gloom, he decided to find something to cheer her up before he left, leaving some memories behind.

"Just look ahead and try not to turn your head," Ino said while adjusting the camera, not forgetting to remind Helena.

"Okay!" Helena stood timidly under the tree. She had never heard of this kind of painting method before.

Although it seemed strange, she chose to trust him.

"Alright, don't move!" After adjusting the angle, Ino quickly ran back to his spot, then crouched beside Helena.

"Click!"

A crisp sound rang out, and time seemed to freeze.

…

At dusk.

The night gently swept over the valley.

Inside the room, a blue light flashed, and Fide's figure appeared.

Sensing the affirmation in his mind, Ino gently stroked the phoenix's feathers with a smile.

Honestly, he was quite intimidated by Fide. Finding a place with Fide had been like groping for an elephant in the dark, even more absurd.

After continuous failures, he had almost lost hope.

Even so, he habitually held onto Fide's tail feathers, treating it as another blind box adventure.